Get ready. The bills for this legislative session are starting to roll in and a series of public hearings are scheduled for the coming days and weeks. The following are the bills MEA is following and where MEA stands on each issue.
- Next Gen Science Standards: On Wednesday, January 30th at 9am, the Education Committee will conduct a public hearing on LD 14 to move Maine to adopt the Next Gen Science Standards. Many science educators are already using these standards. The bill is being redrafted due to an error, but if you support moving Maine to the Next Gen Science Standards, feel free to email members of the Education Committee by mailing the Committee Clerk, Jayne Daneen at [email protected]
- Teacher Evaluation: The MEA has been working on a bill to remove standardized testing and student growth measurements from our teacher evaluation systems and to give teachers more of a voice in the process. MEA is working with Rep Dave McCrea – a 46 year science teacher and MEA leader from Fort Fairfield – on a bill to do just this. The public hearing is 1pm on Wednesday, January 30th in the Education Committee. MEA is working on some amendments, but you can read the bill in its current form here. If you would like to stay up-to-date on this and other legislation, please sign up to receive MEA’s Advocates for Children and Education Newsletter, Under the Dome, by clicking here: https://maineea.org/mea-ace/
- Education Commissioner: On Thursday, February 1 at 1pm, the Education Committee will hold a public hearing on the nomination of Pender Makin to serve as the Commissioner of Education. The MEA will testify in support of her nomination. If you have a comment to share with the Committee, please email the Committee Clerk, Jayne Daneen at [email protected] and she will share your thoughts with the Education Committee.
- Truancy: On Monday, February 4th at 9am, the Education Committee will be working on two bills related to truancy. Current law states a student is not required to attend school (or an alternative/home school program) until they are 7 years old. LD 151, sponsored by Senator Rebecca Millett (D – Cumberland) would change that law and require kids to attend school when they are 6 years old. Another bill, LD 150, requires students younger than 7 that enroll in a public school to attend public school. There have been issues in some districts of students younger than 7 not regularly attending, and due to the law districts have limited options to help those families.
The MEA will testify in support of both bills. If you have a comment to share with the Committee on these bills or on this topic, please email the Committee Clerk, Jayne Daneen at [email protected].
- Obscene Material in Schools: On Monday, February 4th at 10am, the Criminal Justice Committee will conduct a hearing on LD 94, An Act to Prohibit the Dissemination of Obscene Material by Public schools. The MEA is adamantly opposed to this bill and we will be testifying in opposition. This bill would make the distribution of obscene material a crime. However, there is no clear definition of “obscene” in the law and we worry this will leave educators at the mercy of interpretation. The MEA encourages members to register their opposition to this bill. You can read the bill here. You can contact the Criminal Justice Committee by emailing the Committee Clerk at [email protected] or you can contact the individual members of the Criminal Justice Committee.
- Health Care for Retired Teachers: On Monday February 4th at 1pm, the Education Committee will conduct a public hearing on LD 178, An Act to Increase the State Share of the Cost of Health Insurance for Retired Teachers. Currently, the state pays 45% of the health insurance costs for retired teachers. This bill, if passed, would lift the amount by 5% each year until it reaches 90%. Please register to attend and share your views on this critical issue. The MEA will certainly be testifying in support. If you can attend, MEA can help you prepare for the public hearing: http://bit.ly/LD-178
If you would like to see these legislative updates weekly in your inbox, sign up to receive Under the Dome, MEA’s Advocates for Children and Education Newsletter. Sign up here.
